Web winding apparatus



March 5, 1968 M. L. BOYUM ETAL 3,372,320

WEB WINDING APPARATUS Filed May 12, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS MARDELL L. BOYUM PETER F. GRlNNELL BY w ATTORNEY United States Patent 6 3,372,320 WEB WINDING APPARATUS Mardell L. Boyum and Peter F. Grinnell, Clinton, Iowa, assignors to E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, DeL, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 12, 1965, Ser. No. 455,264 Claims. (Cl. 318-7) The present invention relates to winding apparatus and, more particularly, is directed to improvements in and relating to web winding apparatus having an adjustable speed drive utilizing a magnetic clutch assembly and a control system associated therewith.

It has long been recognized that it is desirable when winding a web material into roll form to avoid variations in tension on the web during the winding operation in order to obtain a roll wherein the wound material is of uniform tension between the core of the roll and the outer peripheral edge thereof. Variation in web tension within a roll causes many difliculties during the unwinding thereof such as, for example, wrinkling; for instance, excessively tensioned web portions relax upon unwindind and thereby lead directly to wrinkling. Thus, variation in web tension causes irregularities in the web during the unwinding and use of the roll and leads also to difficulties when utilized in converting machinery, such as, for example, poor alignment, creep, cinching, jamming and stoppage of the converting machinery. Attempts have been made to provide winding apparatus having winding tension control mechanism, e.g., US. Patent 2,990,484, but although such apparatus perhaps effects some improvement over apparatus without any tension control device, these are largely inadequate and fail to provide a satisfactory solution to the web winding problem because they cope essentially with only a limited cause of web tension variations within a roll.

Among the causes of variations of web tension in rolls, arising during a typical winding operation and apart from the direct web tension due to the rate of feed of web material to the winding roll, are to be found such factors as, for example, both static and rolling friction, starting and acceleration and stopping and deceleration of the winding roll, among others. It is the principal object of the present invention to provide web winding apparatus having means for controlling these and other factors contributing to web tension, and, capable of winding rolls of web material characterized by uniform tension between the core of each roll and the outer peripheral edge thereof.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be t more clearly understood by the following description, the

appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a block diagram of the control system of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic representation in perspective of the functioning parts of the salient portions of the winding apparatus together with the electrical control system.

The apparatus herein disclosed in illustration of the invention includes a mandrel 16 axially driven by a suitable motor 17 through adjustable magnetic clutch 18 operatively connected between the motor 17 and mandrel 16. In operation, moving web material 11 is advanced at a controlled speed by advancing roller set 13 which includes a driven roll 14 and a non-driven roll 15 that rotates at the same speed as roll 14. Roll 14 is driven by a suitable motor 41 through adjustable magnetic clutch 38 operatively connected between motor 41 and roll 14. The speed of roll 14 is controlled by magnetic clutch 38,

through controller 39, and feed-back from tachometergenerator 19. Power is delivered to magnetic clutch 38 upon actuation of relay 40 and start switch 37. Motor 41 operates at constant speed and is energized from the power line as depicted in FIGURE 2 which is connected to a main power switch, not shown.

Roller set 13 is located ahead of mandrel 16 and advances web material 11 to mandrel 16 where it is wound. A tachometer-generator 19 is operatively connected to roll 14, and a tachometer-generator 20 is operatively connected to mandrel 16; each tachometer-generator generates an electrical signal and each such sigal is fed through suitable electrical conductors to inverse speed generator 21. Tachometer-generator 19 is characterized preferably by a voltage level proportional to the rotational speed of roll 14 and a direct current output adapted to charge a capacitor unit in the inverse speed generator 21; and tachometer-generator 20 is characterized by an alternating current output.

The inverse speed generator 21 receives the current output signal from each of tachometer-generators 19 and 2t) and, in turn, itself provides a voltage output signal that is a function of the ratio of the rotational speed of roll 14 and mandrel 16. The inverse speed generator 21 is a conventional unit known to the trade such as, for example, Inverse Speed Board No. 45800345-0010 available from the Louis Allis Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The voltage output signal, commonly referred to as a control signal, from inverse speed generator 21 is fed through suitable electrical conductors to tension adjustor 32 which is a voltage divider adapted to select and transmit to clutch voltage controller 22 a portion of the control signal The function of inverse speed board or generator 21 is to provide a control signal to clutch voltage controller 22 that is inversely proportional to the ratio of the angular speed of mandrel 16 to the angular speed of roller 14; the speed of mandrel 16 decreases as the radius of roll 12 increases and to maintain uniform web tension, the signal from inverse speed board 21 increases or becomes greater resulting in greater output from clutch voltage controller 22 to increase the torque of roll 12 accordingly. It is understood, of course, that as the diameter of roll 12 increases, the torque also must be increased in order to maintain uniform or constant tension on the web material. Thus, inverse speed board 21 provides a signal which accomplishes the purpose of increasing torque with web roll radius.

The clutch voltage controller 22 is a conventional unit known to the trade such as, for example, Voltage Controller No. 45800798-0000 available from the Louis Allis Company, Milwaukee, Wis. The clutch voltage controller 22 is electrically connected between the power source (not shown) and magnetic clutch 18 and controls in a continuous manner the line voltage or power fed to magnetic clutch 18 in direct response to the control signal received from tension adjust'or 32 and thereby controls the torque characteristic of roll 12; i.e., magnetic clutch 18 controls the rotation of mandrel 16 and ensures that the torque of roll 12 is only that which is necessary to maintain uniform tension on the web material during the winding operation.

The change in torque requirement associated with acceleration and deceleration of roll 12 is controlled by acceleration-deceleration compensator 31. The acceleration-deceleration compensator 31 is a detector-amplifier electrically connected, as depicted in FIGURE 2, between tachometer-generator 19 and clutch voltage controller 22, and is adapted to detect and transmit to clutch voltage controller 22 a signal proportional to the rate of increase or decrease of the output signal of tachometer-generator 19. During normal winding operation, the accelerationdeceleration compensator 31, responsive to a constant voltage signal from tachometer-generator 19, transmits zero or no bias signal, but provides a signal of suificient magnitude to clutch voltage controller 22 during acceleration or deceleration of roll 12 adequate either to increase or decrease the torque output from magnetic clutch 18 or roll 12 for maintaining the required degree of tension on the web material 11. The acceleration-deceleration compensator 3-1 is a conventional unit known to the trade such as, for example, Acceleration-Deceleration Controller No. 45S0O575O000 available from Louis Allis Company, Milwaukee, Wis. This element functions essentially by monitoring the magnitude of a capacitor therein charging or discharging current as the voltage that it senses changes with changing speed of the winding roll. The foregoing describes the web winding apparatus in essentially its most rudimentary form, and it Web tension alone was the only factor requiring control, the apparatus above described perhaps would sufiice to wind a web of material into a roll having some semblance or degree of uniform web tension from the core to the periphery of the roll. Further improvements are, however, necessary in order to control other causes of web tension variations and thus provide an apparatus capable of winding rolls having essentially uniform web tension. The web tension control circuit of the apparatus of the present invention is further characterized by a friction compensator 25 which is a voltage divider electrically connected by means of suitable conductors to the input of clutch voltage control unit 22. Friction compensator 25 is adapted to select and feed to clutch voltage control unit 22 a portion of the bias voltage available from DC. bias voltage supply A, and as depicted in FIG- URE 2, the friction compensator 25 is manually adjustable thereby permitting selection of the magnitude of the bias voltage signal. Since the mechanical friction associated with the apparatus generally decreases as the speed of the winding unit decreases and thus calls for a decrease in the friction compensating bias, the apparatus is provided with r.p.m. compensator 34 which is coupled to the input of voltage control unit 22. As depicted in FIGURE 2, the rpm. compensator 34 derives a signal through a rectifier bridge therein from tachometer-generator 20, which signal is proportional to the speed of mandrel 16, and in normal operation r.p.m. compensator 34 provides a gradually diminishing bias as the diameter of the winding roll 12 increases thereby minimizing the effects of retarding mechanical forces.

The forcing torque compensator 29 is a potentiometric device adapted to select and transmit to clutch voltage control unit 22 a portion of the bias voltage available from DC. bias voltage supply B. The forcing torque compensator 29 functions as a start control rendered operative through relay switch 30 upon actuation of start switch 37. The output bias signal from forcing torque compensator 29 is a direct current impulse signal of preselected magnitude and duration sutficient, when relayed through clutch voltage controller 22 to magnetic clutch 18, to momentarily exceed the torque necessary to start rotation of mandrel 16. The magnitude of the bias signal is controlled by means of diameter-sensing potentiometer 36 responsive to the position of lay-on roll 35 in relation to roll 12. Lay-on roll 35 is rotatably connected to the ends of levers L and L' and the latter each are pivotally connected at P and P, and lever arm L is provided at one end with adjustable arm extension R that interconnects potentiometer 36 and lay-n roll 35 through lever arm L. As seen from FIGURE 2, the layon roll 35 at the start of normal winding operations is urged towards mandrel 16 by fluid pressure or other suitable means S and S, and the pivoted lever arm L between potentiometer 36 and lay-on roll 35 moves the adjustable arm R to the maximum position, in relation to the resistor unit in potentiometer 33, to provide the appropriate bias to charge capacitor X in forcing torque compensator 29 and provide an impulse signal which is transmitted to clutch voltage controller 22 upon energizing relay 30 by actuating start switch 37. As winding roll 12 increases in diameter, it causes lay-on roll 35 to move to the left in FIGURE 2 which, in turn, causes the pivoted lever arm L between potentiometer 36 and layon roll 35 to vary the position of the adjustable arm R in relation to the resistor unit in potentiometer 36 and increases the magnitude of the bias signal to clutch voltage control unit 22 when starting the apparatus with a partly built-up roll 12; the magnitude of the bias signal increases as the diameter or size of roll 12 increases and, therefore, requires a greater starting torque.

The standing tension compensator 27 is a potentiometric device adapted to select and transmit to clutch voltage control unit 22 a portion of the bias voltage available from DC. bias voltage supply B. Standing tension compensator 27 functions as a stall control and is operative during a stall or standing sequence (when roll 12 is not winding) to transmit a bias signal of sufiicient magnitude to clutch voltage controller 22 adequate to maintain a net torque output from magnetic clutch 18 to roll 12 for maintaining the required degree of tension of the web material. The magnitude of the bias signal transmitted from standing tension compensator 27 to clutch voltage control unit 22 is controlled by means of diameter-sensing potentiometer 36 responsive to the position of lay-on roll 35 in relation to roll 12, in the manner above discussed. Specifically, upon stalling of roll 12, relay switch 28 is de-energized (responsive to the output of tachometer-generator 20 which falls-off when roll 12 stalls) and effects electrical communication between standing tension compensator 27 and clutch voltage control unit 22, and the magnitude of the bias signal increases as the diameter or size of roll 12 increases, in the manner above discussed.

The taper adjustor 33 is a potentiometric device adapted to select and transmit to clutch voltage control unit 22 a portion of the bias voltage available from DC. bias voltage supply C. The taper adjustor 33 functions as a control for the tension pattern, i.e., the change in tension within a roll from the core to the periphery thereof, of roll 12. The bias signal supplied by taper adjustor 33 is in addition to the other bias signals above discussed and its net eifect in terms of the torque characteristic of roll 12 resides in providing an initial torque greater by a fixed amount than that required to produce constant tension on the web material. The bias signal from taper adjustor 33 gradually becomes less significant during the winding operation by reason of the fact that it is set initially at a fixed amount and soon becomes overshadowed by the other bias signals above discussed, especially that from tension adjustor 32, as the diameter or size of roll 12 increases. When taper adjustor 33 is set at a zero setting and thus supplying no bias signal to clutch voltage controller 22, the tension pattern of roll 12 is uniformly constant from the core to the outer periphery of the roll. As the bias signal from taper adjustor 33 increases, the tension pattern of roll .12 becomes tapered from high to low in either a linear or curved manner; for instance, if taper adjustor 33 is set at its maximum and thus supplying the maximum bias signal, the tension pattern of the roll decreases or tapers from a maximum value at the core to a minimum value at the periphery of the roll. As depicted in FIGURE 2, taper adjustor 33 contains a second potentiometric device Y which is operatively connected to and responsive to the adjustment or movement of tension adjustor 32. Any adjustment of tension adjustor 32 is transmitted to potentiometric device Y in taper adjustor 33, thus regulating the magnitude of the bias signal selected by potentiometric device Y from the bias supply C in relation to the tension level and ensuring that the taper bias signal is a fixed percentage of the bias signal from tension adjustor 32. Otherwise, of course, the roll tension pattern would vary with the tension level and preclude control of the tension pattern within the roll.

The bias voltage source or supply such as, for example, source A, etc., depicted in FIGURE 2, may be any of those known to the art, and preferably is a stable and adjustable D.C. source. For convenience and clarity a number of locations or sources are shown in FIGURE 2 but it is understood all may be connected to a common source.

A brief description of the operation of the winding apparatus with reference to FIGURE 2 follows. When the main power switch (not shown) is energized, power is supplied to motors 17 and 41 and start switch 37 is open as are also normally open relay 30 and 40, Since tachometer-generator is not rotating, no power is supplied to relay 23, and it rests in the right-hand position, as depicted, thus coupling standing torque bias from standing tension compensator 27 to clutch voltage controller 22. This energizes magnetic clutch 18 with a preselected torque level; the torque level is selected by manual adjustment of the potentiometer unit comprising controller 27 and the magnitude of the bias level is controlled by diameter-sensing potentiometer 36 responsive to the position of lay-on roll 35 in relation to roll 12, as above explained.

Upon closing switch 37 to set the apparatus in motion, relay 40 is closed which couples controller 39 to magnetic clutch 38, thus energizing magnetic clutch 38 and placing roller set 13 in operation to advance web 11 as well as cause rotation of tachometer-generator 19. Closing switch 37 also energizes start relay 30 to couple the starting pulse from forcing torque compensator 29, which in turn causes an output from clutch voltage controller 22 to energize magnetic clutch 18 and start mandrel 16 rotating which, in turn, causes tachometer-generator 20 to rotate and generate a voltage and cause shifting of relay 28 to the left-hand position and coupling into the system of regular tension control from inverse speed board 21.

The rising voltage from tachometer-generator 19 causes acceleration-deceleration compensator 31 to produce an output voltage which serves as a bias signal to controller 22 to provide for the additional torque required for accelerating roll 12. The output of tachometer-generator 19 and tachometer-generator 20 combine to provide a control signal from inverse speed 'board 21 which is transmitted to controller 22 and which may be appropriately modified according to the actual tension level desired by manual adjustment of the potentiometer comprising tension adjustor 32. This potentiometer is mechanically coupled to another potentiometer Y, in taper adjustor 33 to regulate the change in tension pattern in response to any change in the tension level. A third potentiometer W in taper adjustor 33 is manually adjustable to select any desired tension pattern; for example, by adding or subtracting a fixed bias to the control signal, the ratio of the value of the control signal and the bias signal at the beginning and at the end of the winding operation may be varied. Manually adjustable potentiometers comprising friction compensators and 34 are provided to control variations in web tension due to the friction of the winding roll or mandrel. The friction characteristics of the mandrel or winding roll may be determined by any wellknown means, and the bias voltage signal corresponding to axial torque required to overcome this friction is set on the potentiometer device. This adjustment compensates for constant level friction and the rpm. compensator 34, which receives a part of the speed-dependent voltage from tachometer-generator 20, compensates for changes, with speed, of friction and other roll-rotation retarding effects. This level also may be determined by any well-known means and is selected and set manually.

When the winding action is stopped, relays and reverse their action, and the acceleration-deceleration control has a negative output which diminishes all other torque producing signals.

The apparatus of the present invention described hereinabove is characterized by the unique features providing for convenient selection of the tension pattern of a roll and control of various factors that may cause variation of the tension pattern in portions or localized regions of such rolls. For instance, the torque requirements demanded from the magnetic clutch and transmitted to the winding roll vary significantly depending upon whether the roll is starting to rotate, accelerating, decelerating or held in a stall or standing position, as well as that due simply to the rolling friction of the winding roll and associated apparatus. If uncontrolled, the variations in tension pattern may be widely separated on the roll, and of short duration, and although they may vary only slightly from the average tension of the roll, they can be sufficient to impair the operation of converting machinery. A major, and therefore important, factor that may effect the tension pattern is that resulting from the torque demands due to starting and that due to acceleration of the roll to running speeds. The torque requirement to overcome static friction and inertia is generally somewhat higher than the combined torque requirement for tension and running friction and, therefore, a substantial fraction of the torque applied during the initial phase of the winding operation and until the apparatus reaches running speed is that necessary to overcome the static and friction factors of the winding apparatus. Similarly, as the apparatus decelerates the torque requirement is reduced, and if applied torque is not correspondingly reduced, excessive tension of the web results.

To offset these sources of tension pattern deviation, the present invention provides means for supplying the appropriate bias signals to the magnetic clutch voltage controller 22. Specifically, these include means producing biasing signals to provide a pulse for a starting torque requirement and for controlling the effect of roll acceleration or deceleration. In addition to providing biasing means compensating for relatively abrupt sources of torque deviation, the apparatus also provides biasing means for maintaining the necessary torque and the desired tension on the stationary web during a holding or stall sequence of the winding operation along with means to select and adjust the tension level including means for selecting the tension pattern, e.g., constant tension or constant torque, at various tension levels, These various compensating means employed in combination with the friction compensating means already described cooperate to provide a uniform tension pattern under any of the adverse conditions mentioned; and each may be employed either singly or in combination with one or more of the others to provide compensation for only specifically desired effects.

What is claimed is:

1. Winding apparatus com-prising a rotatable member adapted to be driven by a drive motor; an adjustable magnetic clutch operatively connected between said rotatable member and the drive motor;

advancing means adapted to advance a web of material to be wound into roll form on the rotatable member;

means adapted to transmit motive power to said magnetic clutch responsive to a control signal from a tension control means adapted to generate a control signal proportional to the ratio of the rotational speed of the advancing means and the rotatable member and 'bias signals selected from any one of:

an acceleration-deceleration control means adapted to generate a bias signal proportional to the speed of said advancing means;

a first adjustable friction control means adapted to generate a fixed bias signal;

a second adjustable friction control means adapted to generate a bias signal proportional to the speed of the rotatable member;

an adjustable forcing torque control means adapted to generate a bias signal proportional to the size of the roll of wound Web material;

an adjustable standing tension control means adapted to generate a bias signal proportional to the size of the roll of wound web material;

and an adjustable tension taper control means adapted to generate a bias signal of fixed percentage of the tension control signal;

for rotating said rotatable member and maintaining a uniform tension pattern between the core and the outer periphery of the Wound web material. 2. Winding apparatus comprising a rotatable member adapted to be rotatably driven by a drive motor;

an adjustable magnetic clutch operatively connected between said rotatable member and the drive motor and adapted to control the speed of said rotatable member; advancing means adapted to advance a Web of material to be wound into roll form on the rotatable member;

control means adapted to transmit motive power to said magnetic clutch responsive to a control signal and bias signals from a plurality of web tension control means including;

adjustable web tension control means comprising a speed generator adapted to generate a control signal proportional to the ratio of the rotational speed of the advancing means and the rotatable member in response to voltage signals from each of means cooperatively associated with the advancing means and means cooperatively associated with the rotatable member;

an acceleration-deceleration control means comprising an amplifier adapted to feed a bias signal proportional to the speed of said advancing means in re sponse to the voltage signal from the means cooperatively associated with the advancing means; a first adjustable friction control means comprising a potentiometer for electrical connection to a DO. voltage source and adapted to feed a fixed bias signal;

a second adjustable friction control means comprising a rectifier and a potentiometer adapted to feed a bias signal proportional to the speed of the rotatable member in response to the voltage signal from the means cooperatively associated with the rotatable member;

adjustable forcing torque control means comprising a potentiometer for electrical connection to a DC. voltage source and adjustably cooperatively connected to a guide member adapted to contact the outer layer of web material on the rotatable memher and to vary the adjustment of said potentiometer as the roll of web material on the rotatable member increases in size;

adjustable standing tension control means comprising an adjustable potentiometer adapted to transmit a 'bias signal responsive to the bias signal from said forcing torque control potentiometer;

and adjustable tension taper control means comprising a potentiometer for electrical connection to a DC. voltage source and adjustably cooperatively connected to the web tension control means adapted to feed a bias signal that is a fixed percentage of the tension control signal;

for rotating said rotatable member and maintaining a uniform tension pattern between the core and the outer peripheral edge of the wound web material.

3. Winding apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said adjustable forcing torque control means additionally comprises a second adjustable potentiometer and a capacitor wherein said second potentiometer is adapted to select and transmit a portion of the bias signal emanating from the potentiometer connected to the DC. voltage source for charging said capacitor, in cooperative association with means for energizing said forcing torque control for a preselected duration thereby to discharge said capacitor and transmit a bias signal to said control means for star-ting rotation of said rotatable member.

4. Winding apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said adjustable tension taper control means additionally comprises a second adjustable potentiometer adapted to select and feed a portion of the bias signal emanating from the potentiometer connected to the DC. voltage source for controlling the tension pattern of the roll of wound web material.

5. Apparatus for winding webs comprising a mandrel;

a motor for rotating said mandrel;

an adjustable magnetic clutch operatively connected between said mandrel and said motor for controlling the speed of said mandrel;

means for advancing a web to be wound into roll form on said mandrel;

control means for transmitting motive power to said magnetic clutch responsive to a control signal and biasing signals from any of Web tension control means including;

adjustable web tension control means comprising a speed generator for generating a control signal proportional to the ratio of the rotational speed of the advancing means and said mandrel responsive to voltage signals from each of a tachometer-generator cooperatively associated with the advancing means and a tachometer-generator cooperatively associated with said mandrel, and a potentiometer for selecting and feeding a portion of said control signal;

acceleration-deceleration control means comprising an amplifier for feeding a bias signal proportional to the speed of said advancing means in response to the voltage signal from the tachometer-generator cooperatively associated with the advancing means;

a first adjustable friction control means comprising a potentiometer for electrical connection to a DC. voltage source and adapted to feed a fixed bias signal;

a second adjustable friction control means comprising a rectifier and a potentiometer for feeding a bias signal proportional to the speed of said mandrel in response to the voltage signal from the tachometergenerator cooperatively associated with said mandrel;

adjustable forcing torque control means comprising a potentiometer for electrical connection to a DC voltage source and adjustably cooperatively connected to a guide member adapted to contact the outer layer of web material on said mandrel and to vary the adjustment of said potentiometer as the roll of web material on said mandrel increases in size;

adjustable standing tension control means comprising an adjustable potentiometer for transmitting a bias signal responsive to the bias signal from said forcing torque control potentiometer;

and adjustable tension taper control means comprising a potentiometer for electrical connection to a DC. voltage source and adjustably cooperatively connected to the potentiometer in said web tension control means for feeding a bias signal that is a fixed percentage of the tension control signal;

for rotating said mandrel and maintaining a uniform tension pattern between the core and the outer peripheral edge of the wound web.

6. Winding apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said adjustable forcing torque control means additionally comprises a second adjustable potentiometer and a capacitor wherein said second potentiometer is adapted to select and transmit a portion of the bias signal emanating from the potentiometer connected to the D.C. voltage source for charging said capacitor, in cooperative association with means for energizing said forcing torque control for a preselected duration thereby to discharge said capacitor and transmit a bias signal to said control means for starting rotation of said mandrel.

7. Winding apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said adjustable tension taper control means additionally comprises a second adjustable potentiometer adapted to select and feed a portion of the bias signal emanating from the potentiometer connected to the DC. voltage source for controlling the tension pattern of the roll of Wound web material.

8. Apparatus for winding a roll of film material comprising a rotatable member adapted to be rotatably driven by a drive motor;

means cooperatively associated with said rotatable member for generating a first voltage signal proportional to the speed of said rotatable member;

an adjustable magnetic clutch operatively connected between said rotatable member and the drive motor;

means for advancing a film to be wound into roll form on said rotatable member in cooperative association with means for generating a second voltage signal proportional to the speed of said advancing means;

control means for transmitting motive power to said magnetic clutch responsive to a control signal and biasing signals from any of web tension control means including film tension control means responsive to said first and second voltage signals for feeding a control signal proportional to the ratio of the rotational speed of the advancing means and the rotatable member;

acceleration-deceleration control means responsive to said second voltage signal for feeding a bias signal proportional to the speed of said advancing means;

a first adjustable friction control means for feeding a fixed bias signal;

a second adjustable friction control means responsive to said first voltage signal for feeding a bias signal proportional to the speed of said rotatable member;

an adjustable forcing torque control means for feeding a bias signal proportional to the size of the roll of film;

an adjustable standing tension control means for feeding a bias signal proportional to the size of the roll of film;

and adjustable tension taper control means operatively connected to said tension control means for feeding a bias signal of fixed percentage of the tension control bias signal;

for winding said roll and maintaining a uniform tension pattern between the core and the outer periphery of the roll.

9. Apparatus for winding a roll of film material com prising a rotatable member and means cooperatively associated therewith for generating a first voltage signal proportional to the speed of said rotatable member;

a motor for rotating said rotatable member;

an adjustable magnetic clutch operatively connected between said rotatable member and said motor for controlling the speed of said rotatable member;

means for advancing the film to be wound on said rotatable member comprising a roller set having a driven roll in cooperative association with a nondriven roll for contacting and advancing said film therebetween, including a motor for rotating said driven roll, and means cooperatively associated therewith for generating a second voltage signal proportional to the speed of said driven roll;

control means for transmitting motive power to said magnetic clutch responsive to a control signal and biasing signals from any of film tension control means including adjustable film tension control means responsive to said first and second voltage signals for generating a control signal proportional to the rotational speed of said film advancing roller set and said rotatable member;

acceleration-deceleration control means responsive to said second voltage signal for feeding a bias signal proportional to the speed of said roller set;

a first adjustable friction control means comprising a potentiometer for electrical connection to a DC. voltage source and adapted to feed a fixed bias signal;

a second adjustable friction control means responsive to said first voltage signal for feeding a bias signal proportional to the speed of said rotatable member;

adjustable forcing torque control means comprising a potentiometer for electrical connection to a DO voltage source and adjustably cooperatively connected to guide means adapted to contact the outer layer of film on said rotatable member and vary the adjustment of said potentiometer as the roll of film increases in size;

adjustable standing tension control means responsive to the bias signal from said forcing torque control means for feeding a bias signal when said rotatable member is in a non-rotating condition;

and adjustable tension taper control means comprising a potentiometer for electrical connection to a DC. voltage source and adjustably cooperatively connected to said web tension control means for feeding a bias signal that is a fixed percentage of the tension control signal;

for rotating said roll and maintaining a uniform tension pattern between the core and the outer periphery of the roll.

10. Winding apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said adjustable forcing torque control means additionally comprises a second adjustable potentiometer and a capacitor wherein said second potentiometer is adapted to select and transmit a portion of the bias signal emanating from the potentiometer connected to the DC. voltage source for charging said capacitor, in cooperative association with means for energizing said forcing torque control for a preselected duration thereby to discharge said capacitor and transmit a bias signal to said control means for starting rotation of said rotatable member.

11. Winding apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said adjustable tension taper control means additionally comprises a second adjustable potentiometer adapted to select and feed a portion of the bias signal emanating from the potentiometer connected to the DC voltage source for controlling the tension pattern of the roll of wound web material.

12. Apparatus for winding film material into roll form comprising a mandrel and a tachometer-generator cooperatively associated therewith for generating a first voltage signal proportional to the rotational speed of said mandrel;

a motor for rotating said mandrel;

an adjustable magnetic clutch operatively connected between said mandrel and said motor for controlling the speed of said mandrel;

means for advancing the film to be wound on said mandrel comprising a roller set having a driven roll and a non-driven roll operatively connected thereto for contacting and advancing said film therebetween, and a tachometer-generator cooperatively associated therewith for generating a second voltage signal proportional to the speed of said driven roll;

control means for transmitting motive power to said magnetic clutch responsive to a control signal and biasing signals from any of film tension control means including adjustable film tension control means comprising a speed generator responsive to said first and second voltage signals for generating a control signal proportional to the ratio of the rotational speed of said film advancing roller set and said mandrel, and a potentiometer for selecting and feeding a portion of said control signal;

acceleration-deceleration control means comprising an amplifier responsive to said second voltage signal for feeding a bias signal proportional to the speed of said film advancing roller set;

a first adjustable friction control means comprising a potentiometer for electrical connection to a DC. voltage source for feeding a bias signal of preselected fixed magnitude;

a second adjustable friction control means comprising a rectifier and a potentiometer responsive to said first voltage signal for feeding a bias signal proportional to the rotational speed of said mandrel;

adjustable forcing torque control means comprising a potentiometer for electrical connection to a DC. voltage source and adjustably cooperatively connected to a guide member adapted to contact the outer layer of film of said roll and to vary the adjustment of said potentiometer as the roll of film increases in size;

adjustable standing tension control means comprising an adjustable potentiometer adapted to select and transmit a portion of the bias signal emanating from the forcing torque control potentiometer connected to the DC. voltage source in cooperative association with means for energizing said standing tension control to feed a bias signal when said mandrel is in a non-rotating condition;

and adjustable tension taper control means comprising a potentiometer for electrical connection to a DC. voltage source and adjustably cooperatively connected to the potentiometer in said web tension control means for feeding a bias signal of fixed percentage of the tension control signal;

for rotating said mandrel and maintaining a uniform tension pattern between the core and the outer periphery of the roll of wound film material.

13. Winding apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said adjustable forcing torque control means additionally comprises a second adjustable potentiometer and a capacitor wherein said second potentiometer is adapted to select and transmit a portion of the bias signal emanating from the potentiometer connected to the DC. voltage source for charging said capacitor, in cooperative association with means for energizing said forcing torque control for a preselected duration thereby to discharge said capacitor and transmit a bias signal to said control means for starting rotation of said mandrel.

14. Winding apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said adjustable tension taper control means additionally comprises a second adjustable potentiometer adapted to select and feed a portion of the bias signal emanating from the potentiometer connected to the DC. voltage source for controlling the tension pattern of the roll of wound web material.

15. Winding apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said guide member comprises a cylindrical roll rotatably mounted between pivotally connected levers and adapted to contact the outer layer of film being wound on said mandrel, wherein one of said levers is cooperatively connected to said potentiometer for varying the adjustment of said potentiometer responsive to movement of said cylindrical roll in relation to the size of the roll of wound film material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,634,386 4/1953 Pell c 3186 2,990,484 6/1961 Jones 3186 X 3,114,850 12/1963 Hansen 3186 X 3,223,906 12/1965 Dinger 318-7 ORIS L. RADER, Primary Examiner.

B. A. COOPER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. WINDING APPARATUS COMPRISING A ROTATABLE MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE DRIVEN BY A DRIVE MOTOR; AN ADJUSTABLE MAGNETIC CLUTCH OPERATIVELY CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER AND THE DRIVE MOTOR; ADVANCING MEANS ADAPTED TO ADVANCE A WEB OF MATERIAL TO BE WOUND INTO ROLL FORM ON THE ROTATABLE MEMBER; MEANS ADAPTED TO TRANSMIT MOTIVE POWER TO SAID MAGNETIC CLUTCH RESPONSIVE TO A CONTROL SIGNAL FROM A TENSION CONTROL MEANS ADAPTED TO GENERATE A CONTROL SIGNAL PROPORTIONAL TO THE RATIO OF THE ROTATIONAL SPEED OF THE ADVANCING MEANS AND THE ROTATABLE MEMBER AND BIAS SIGNALS SELECTED FROM ANY ONE OF: AN ACCELERATION-DECELERATION CONTROL MEANS ADAPTED TO GENERATE A BIAS SIGNAL PROPORTIONAL TO THE SPEED OF SAID ADVANCING MEANS; A FIRST ADJUSTABLE FRICTION CONTROL MEANS ADAPTED TO GENERATE A FIXED BIAS SIGNAL; A SECOND ADJUSTABLE FRICTION CONTROL MEANS ADAPTED TO GENERATE A BIAS SIGNAL PROPORTIONAL TO THE SPEED OF THE ROTATABLE MEMBER; AN ADJUSTABLE FORCING TORQUE CONTROL MEANS ADAPTED TO GENERATE A BIAS SIGNAL PROPORTIONAL TO THE SIZE OF THE ROLL OF WOUND WEB MATERIAL; AN ADJUSTABLE STANDING TENSION CONTROL MEANS ADAPTED TO GENERATE A BIAS SIGNAL PROPORTIONAL TO THE SIZE OF THE ROLL OF WOUND WEB MATERIAL; AND AN ADJUSTABLE TENSION TAPER CONTROL MEANS ADAPTED TO GENERATE A BIAS SIGNAL OF FIXED PERCENTAGE OF THE TENSION CONTROL SIGNAL; FOR ROTATING SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER AND MAINTAINING A UNIFORM TENSION PATTERN BETWEEN THE CORE AND THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE WOUND WEB MATERIAL. 